WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — President Biden signed a foreign aid package into law on Wednesday.
"It’s going to make America safer," he said.
The law included a provision that forces TikTok’s Chinese parent company to sell the app or face a ban in the United States.
"Make no mistake, this is a ban," said Shou Chew, TikTok's CEO. "A ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice."
Chew responded to the ban in a post to the platform, calling the move an attack on First Amendment rights.
The law gives TikTok’s owner ByteDance nine months to sell the platform, or it could be removed from mobile app stores in the United States.
President Biden could give the company a three-month extension if it can’t find a buyer.
If the ban is enacted, it would not punish individual users who have the app on their phones, instead, it would fine web hosting and app platforms for keeping the app available.
TikTok would not be automatically deleted from devices, but the app would stop receiving updates, meaning any bugs or software upgrades could make it stop working.
Lawmakers claim the company’s ties to the Chinese government pose a national security threat.
TikTok has repeatedly denied it provides any user data to the Chinese government and plans to fight the law in court.
"Rest assured; we aren’t going anywhere," Chew said. "We are confident and we will keep fighting for your rights in the courts. The facts and the constitution are on our side."
In Wednesday’s video, Chew said the company invested billions of dollars to keep user data secure and he's optimistic about the company's chances to stop the ban.
The big question is, does this ban violate the First Amendment of the Constitution? TikTok claims it would, pointing out its 170 million users who share their views and conduct business on the platform.
The government would likely push back in court, reiterating it’s a matter of national security. The case could be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, whose conservative justices would likely uphold the law.